K-12 STEM and Coding Pathway

A STEM Pathway for K-12 with Robotics, Coding, and NGSS Engineering

Robots are the Trojan Horse method of engaging students, parents love the STEM career opportunities, and schools are finding their classes fill up fast with the courses in our Exploring Robotics K-12 STEM and Coding Pathway.

Your school can offer a complete STEM K-12 Pathway, or fill in the gaps for the grades that don't currently have STEM solutions.

With Units in K-5 and Elective Courses in 6-12, the primary focus is on implementing the Physical Science, Computer Science (coding), Technology, and Engineering that many programs need. But every course also includes ELA, Art, and Math in the curriculum. Students are fully immersed in STEM.

These courses attract girls and a diverse range of students. If districts wait till high school, it's too late; students will have already chosen their career options. When introduced to robots and coding in K-8, students are more likely to choose advanced STEM courses in high school.

These are rugged robots that stand up to classroom abuse, with supplemental curriculum to go with them that follows the 5E instructional model, and is aligned to standards. As a STEM company, we offer a turn-key solution of products and services to ensure teacher success. Every grade can now have science STEM labs with engaging hands-on activities.

Most classroom packages are under $5,000 for a class of 20 to 30 students. That includes the curriculum, PD, support, and STEM lab station materials. A full STEM pathway of courses is affordable for many districts. Some implement a different STEM robot for every grade, some choose 3 or 4 for each school: Elmentary, Middle, and High.

The kits are rugged and can be used for multiple classes over several years. Some have been used by schools for 5+ years.

All curriculum is online, video-based, self-paced lessons for terms or semesters. Students and teachers can access lessons from any device.

Very minimal materials costs. Spare parts are typically less than $50 per class.

Instructor PD is included via video conference – does not require teachers to travel or miss school days.

Technical support is included to get set up and started and to answer questions as they arise.

Funding is available. ESSA, STEM, 21st Century, and CTE funding can be used by most schools (some states require teachers to have CTE credentials to qualify for funds). Many community organizations and granting agencies also support STEM programs.

Some private schools and clubs charge a lab fee to cover the cost of robots or kits, and let the students take them home.

Why Implement an Exploring Robotics K-12 STEM Pathway?

Students gain the foundation knowledge needed to pursue STEM careers with CS coding, NGSS Engineering, and applied Math and Science. They invent things and also learn the fundamentals of electronics using fun kits with Arduino, Raspberry Pi and other control systems.

A college and career component provides information about STEM careers and activities to inspire students to pursue possible STEM career paths.

We make it easy for non-technical teachers to include STEM and robots in their class by providing a comprehensive curriculum with online self-paced lessons using videos and step-by-step instruction for teaching the tough coding and engineering topics.

We work with your IT department to match the robots to the school's technology: tablets, Chromebooks, or computers. So teachers have more success and less frustration with technology.

The turn-key STEM lab stations can be used in classrooms and after-school programs. They can be shared by STEM, Science, Math, and ELA teachers, media specialists, and librarians; enhancing collaboration among teachers and staff.

Teachers enjoy the personalized PD via video conference that fits into their schedule, and on-going technical support. We don't leave them hanging to figure it out on their own.

With this pathway, your students are prepared to enter college or technical schools with a strong foundation in Technology, Engineering and Computer Science concepts. Foundational engineering practices, coding, and STEM concepts are incrementally taught from elementary through middle and high school. These career-ready courses prepare students to become the technicians and engineers who are creating Internet Apps, developing new SMART technologies for homes, medicine, and industry, and helping to solve world problems.

Students control and operate robots and apply coding to solve real world situations. The mobile robots in the pathway mimic the features of automated vehicles and robots used in warehouses, factories, security, hospitals, and NASA. Students build prototypes and add-on parts using 3D printers. They invent gadgets and control things with code. They learn aerodynamics and hydrodynamics principles with a drone and hovercraft. They gain mechanical and electrical engineering foundations. Finally, the security robot ties it all together, and is a great capstone project with a robot that is driven around with a camera and an arm that moves things, using multiple control systems working together, with advanced networks.